Envelope lock

ABSTRACT

In an envelope, a lock which is an integral part of the material, comprising a locking-flap on the envelope-flap, and a locking-slit in the envelope-wall confronting it. After closing of the envelope, locking-flap is inserted into slit, and held secure in it due to the relative positions of the elements.

United States Patent [191 11 3,788,539 Vjecsner Jan. 29, 1974 [54] ENVELOPE LOCK I i [76] Inventor: Paul Vjecsner, 350 W. 51st St., New Prlmary Exammer W1Hlam T Dlxson York, N.Y. 10019 9/1873 Giebrich 229/84 Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. Garbe Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Myron Cohen; Maurice B. Steifel; Lawrence G. Kurland ABSTRACT In an envelope, a lock which is an integral part of the material, comprising a locking-flap on the envelopeflap, and a locking-slit in the envelope-wall confronting it. After closing of the envelope, locking-flap is inserted into slit, and held secure in it due to the relative positions of the elements.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures a metal clasps or other added materials currently used to fasten a folded envelope-flap to the confronting en-' velope-wall, and applied repeatedly.

Accordingly, the main object of the invention is elimination of the cost of the mentioned added materials and of their attachment to the envelope, while maintaining their function and without altering the structure of the envelope. In addition, it is the object of the invention to supply the following advantages over previous fastening means: avoidance of the usual early breakage of the customary metal clasp--consequently, a more extended use of the lock, even without reinforcement; simpler, one-operation, application, unlike the hazardous shaping and threading of the metal clasp, or winding of a string fastener instant disengagement, for speedy access to the contents of the envelope. Other specific'objects are: low-lying grip in lock, for extensive adherence of envelope-flap; preservation of the full extent of envelope-walls; an attractive and easily comprehended lock suggesting the manner of its use at a glance; economy and strength of features, enabling its use in envelopes of various forms, sizes and materials, including those of standard stationery, where a lock is desirable when sealing of the envelope prevents desired reuse, and folding of the envelope-flap into the envelope allowing relatively small contents to escape; possible use thereof in paperbags, brief cases, and other envelope-like structures where a lock is advantageous.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a front view of the lockingflap on a folded envelope-flap; FIG. 2 is a front view of the locking-slitin the envelope-wallconfronting the envelope-flap upon closure, FIG. 2 including a back view of the locking-flap on an unfolded envelope-flap; and FIG. 3 is a front view of the unit in locked position.

In FIG.1 locking-flap l is hingedly attached at its base 2 to envelope-flap 3, and has a tab-portion 4 hingedly attached at fold-line 5. Fold-line 5 is substantially perpendicular to base 6 of, and horizontally centered on,'envelope-flap 3, End 7 of the edge of tabportion 4 forms an obtuse angle of about 135 with fold-line 5. Edge 8 of locking-flap l is separated by open space 9 from envelope-flap 3, for easy access to locking-flap 1.

In FIG. 2 locking-slit 10 in envelope-wall 11 is centrally situated to positionally coincide with fold-line 5 of locking-flap 1 when in locked position, and in envelopes such as used with clasps is located within the customary overlap, indicated by edges 12 and 13, of the joined halves of envelope-wall l As illustrated in FIG.3, upon regular closing of the envelope by folding of envelope-flap 3 over envelopewall 11, locking-flap l is folded outward at its base 2, and tab-portion 4 inward at fold-line 5, with tabportion 4 to be guided through exposed slit 10 in envelope-wall ll underneath, to resume unfolded state inside the envelope. Concave bend 14 in tab-portion 4 indicates insertion of tab' 4 in the direction away from base 2. In stiff materials a slight concave bend .in tab 4 may be preformed during die-cutting of envelope blank, to facilitate later insertion. Similarly, slit 10 may be pre-opened in the direction facing insertion, by raising and depressing its appropriate sides.

I FI G- 3 ock n -flap! s l sk din sli 0. ithfq ly inserted tab-portion 4 hidden beneath a now exposed part of envelope-wall 11 in the former location (see F IG.1) of tab-portion 4. The locking action takes place at the lower end 15 of slit l0, separation being prevented by the downward extending edge 7 (again see FIG. 1) of the hidden tab-portion 4, which is free from upward stress. The lock can, in turn, be instantly released by pulling locking-flap 1 outward and downward at edge 8.

The items described above and depicted in the drawings do not constitute the only possible form of the invention. Other forms of the invention may be used while retaining its spirit as claimed.

I claim:

1. In an envelope or, like structure having at least two envelope walls connected together along their peripheries and forming a pocket having an open end, and an envelope closure flap having an open and a closed position, said closure flap being hingedly connected to one of said walls along said open end, the improvement comprising an integral lock comprising a locking flap which is an integral part of said envelope closure flap and located in an aperture therein, and a slit located in the other of said envelope-walls, said envelope closure flap being contiguous to said other wall in said envelope closure flap closedposition, said envelope closure flap having a base located along said hinged connection about which said closure flap is pivoted between said open and said closed positions, said slit being substantially perpendicular to saidbase of said envelope closure flap, said locking-flap having with a base line spaced from said hinged connection, said locking flap I being pivotally integrally secured to said envelope do sure flap along said base line and having a tab portion adapted to be inserted into said. slit into a locked position therein, said tab-portion having a locking edge extending below the lower end of said slit when in said locked position and a pivot' axis about which said tab portion-is pivoted during entry and removal from said slit between said locked position and an unlocked position, said pivot axis being substantially coincidental with said slit when said tab-portion is in said locked position, said locking-edge having an upper end which is in substantial abutting coincidence with said lower end of said slit in said locking position, said locking edge of said tab portion forming an obtuse angle with said pivot-axis, said tab portion extending on only one side of said locking flap, said tab-portion, upon substantial closing of said envelope closure flap, gaining access to said slit by bending of said locking-flap outward substantially about said baseline to at least substantially a right angle to said closure flap while pivoting said tab portion about said pivot axis in a direction substantially normal to the axis of closure of said envelope closure flap, said locking flap substantially resuming its previous unbent state after insertion thereof in said slit into said locking position, whereby said locking edge pre vents the withdrawal of said envelope flap from its closed position, to thereby lock said envelope.

2. An integral lock in accordance with claim 1 wherein said aperture includes an open space adjacent said locking flap and extending between an outer edge of said locking flap and an inner edge of said envelope closure flap aperture, said outer edge extending between said pivot axis and said base-line, whereby access to said locking flap is facilitated.

3. An integral envelope lock in accordance with claim 1 wherein said obtuse angle is substantially 

1. In an envelope or like structure having at least two envelope walls connected together along their peripheries and forming a pocket having an open end, and an envelope closure flap having an open and a closed position, said closure flap being hingedly connected to one of said walls along said open end, the improvement comprising an integral lock comprising a locking flap which is an integral part of said envelope closure flap and located in an aperture therein, and a slit located in the other of said envelope-walls, said envelope closure flap being contiguous to said other wall in said envelope closure flap closed position, said envelope closure flap having a base located along said hinged connection about which said closure flap is pivoted between said open and said closed positions, said slit being substantially perpendicular to said base of said envelope closure flap, said locking-flap having with a base line spaced from said hinged connection, said locking flap being pivotally integrally secured to said envelope closure flap along said base line and having a tab portion adapted to be inserted into said slit into a locked position therein, said tab-portion having a locking edge extending below the lower end of said slit when in said locked position and a pivot axis about which said tab portion is pivoted during entry and removal from said slit between said locked position and an unlocked position, said pivot axis being substantially coincidental with said slit when said tab-portion is in said locked position, said locking-edge having an upper end which is in substantial abutting coincidence with said lower end of said slit in said locking position, said locking edge of said tab portion forming an obtuse angle with said pivot-axis, said tab portion extending on only one side of said locking flap, said tab-portion, upon substantial closing of said envelope closure flap, gaining access to said slit by bending of said locking-flap outward substantially about said base line to at least substantially a right angle to said closure flap while pivoting said tab portion about said pivot axis in a direction substantially normal to the axis of closure of said envelope closure flap, said locking flap substantially resuming its previous unbent state after insertion thereof in said slit into said locking position, whereby said locking edge prevents the withdrawal of said envelope flap from its closed position, to thereby lock said envelope.
 2. An integral lock in accordance with claim 1 wherein said aperture includes an open space adjacent said locking flap and extending between an outer edge of said locking flap and an inner edge of said envelope closure flap aperture, said outer edge extending between said pivot axis and said base-line, whereby access to said locking flap is facilitated.
 3. An integral envelope lock in accordance with claim 1 wherein said obtuse angle is substantially 135* . 